Famous People With Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects everyone from all walks of life including famous people. Moreover, bipolar disorder is a form of mental illness that is classified as a mood disorder. People who suffer from bipolar disorder experience shifts in moods that range from extreme depression to extreme euphoria. When a person with bipolar disorder is experiencing an elevated mood they are said to be in a manic state. Likewise, when they are in a low depressed mood they are said to be experiencing major depression.

When a person is experiencing an elevated mood, they feel very creative and begin brain storming about things they want to do. Sometimes these periods of elevated moods bring about careless and reckless behavior; however, a person who is on medication for bipolar disorder, and one who knows his disease well can channel his creativity in a positive direction without becoming careless and reckless in their behavior. For people who are artists, authors, and musicians and other people who use creativity to earn a living - an elevated mood can bring positive results such as writing new songs, writing new material for a book or create a stunning drawing or painting.

It's no coincidence that there are many famous people with bipolar disorder. As we just mentioned, there are positive aspects such as creativity that can come about by way of a manic or hypo-manic episode. However, a person who suffers from this form of mental illness can easily get in to trouble if he does not recognize his symptoms or if he has yet to be diagnosed. Some of these problems can be reckless spending sprees, self medication with alcohol or drugs or making irrational business decisions. On the other end of the spectrum, when a person is suffering from a depressed episode, their feeling of depression can feel so profound that they may contemplate suicide and some may actually attempt suicide.

Bipolar disorder is a sneaky form of mental illness. We say that because its symptoms can often go undetected for years. The reason for that is that in order for it to be properly diagnosed, a clinician or a psychiatrist has to either witness someone experiencing symptoms or perform a detailed history of the person who is suffering from bipolar disorder.

In order for that to happen one of these things have to happen:

1. The person who is affected by bipolar has to recognize that there is something wrong in his life and report it to his doctor or go and see a psychologist (or at least someone with a degree for counseling.)This usually not the case for as we said earlier, most people with undiagnosed bipolar disorder do not know that they have this disease.

2. A family member or close friend recognizes that their loved one or friend experiences severe shifts in moods and they urge their loved one to seek treatment. Many people who have the disorder will probably not seek treatment because they don't feel ill or sick. Unlike afflictions of the body that let us know when we are sick like having a temperature or vomiting, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are not physical. And many people who do not feel sick normally do not seek treatment.

3. A person with undiagnosed bipolar disorder experiences a profound shift in mood either too high or too low that they begin having a psychotic break where they loose touch with reality. When this happens around friends or family, naturally they will either take them to a hospital or call an ambulance. If this happens in public, the police are often called to investigate someone who is reportedly "acting crazy".

A person with bipolar disorder can lead a normal and productive life if they have their disorder properly diagnosed and are on the right medication and if they understand their disease and learn to recognize the extreme highs and lows associated with this form of mental illness.

Famous Celebrities With Bipolar Disorder

We have attempted to include some of the most famous people in the world. Depending on your age and interests some people may be unknown to you. Since there is limited space, we have included only what the celebrity is best known for as part of the caption under the picture of the celebrity. For instance, Ben Moody is listed as "Guitarist - Evanescence". Since the band Evanescence is what Ben is best known for I have him listed as that. However, I know that Ben is no longer with the band.

In the future, you will be able to click the picture for the celebrity and you will land on a page with a mini biography for that celebrity which will give current details and status for that person.

We have attempted to give the very best photograph of each individual available. And we have used only photographs of the individual that will identify that person for what they are best known for. For instance, Patty Duke was best known for her role in the American TV show: The Patty Duke Show. Since she is best known from that era in American television we used a picture from that era instead of using a current picture which many of you may not recognize.

Bipolar disorder is often thought of as a mental illness that leads to much creativity. As true as that may be, we know from first hand experience how miserable life can be while suffering from this illness. Without medical treatment life can be unbearable for the person suffering from this illness as well as those who are friends and loved ones.

There may be times when medication and treatment seem to be of no use. However, finding the right medication takes time and no one single medication is effective for all people suffering from Bipolar. After many years of suffering from Bipolar I have finally found a medication that keeps this illness in check. My hope is all people who suffer from this illness may find suitable treatment to effectively manage this illness so that they can move on with their lives and continue to be productive and happy people.